Notables

CELEBRATIONS - Milestones - NOTABLES

December 23, 1998|LAURA SIMON

The West Palm Beach Police Department has awarded a $5,000 grant to the West Palm Beach Boys and Girls Club to implement a gang and violence prevention program. The program will fulfill a need in West Palm Beach, where the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has identified 87 gangs with approximately 700 active members.

The program offers positive alternatives to the same children that are recruited for criminal street gangs. Up to 100 children will be chosen to participate in the program.

A recent independent study of 33 Boys and Girls Clubs nationwide that were piloting a similar program found that 48 percent of participants showed improved school behavior and more than one-third raised their school grades after one year.

The Lord's Place in Lantana just celebrated the opening of its new Antique and Gift Store with a pre-opening party. The party generated $3,000 as guests purchased store items for 150 percent of the item's sticker cost.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 54, which serves Delray Beach and Boynton Beach, recently held a holiday event to help ensure a safe and happy boating holiday. On Dec. 12, Santa arrived at the Boynton Beach boat ramp on an official Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol boat carrying gifts of 100 personal flotation devices for children ages 6 to 9.

Marine Pvt. Donald P. Weber, son of David J. Weber of Lake Worth, recently completed basic training at Parris Island, S.C. He is a 1996 graduate of Jackson Memorial High School in Jackson, N.J.

Marine Pvt. Alejandro Santiago, son of Jesus and Jhoan Santiago of Boynton Beach, recently completed basic training in Parris Island, S.C. He is a 1998 graduate of Atlantic High School in Delray Beach.